Burmeister previously was ThedaCare’s senior vice president for primary care, behavioral health and rural hospitals. In his new role, he will continue to oversee the rural hospitals, which include ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca, and Shawano Medical Center. In addition, he will continue to oversee the affiliation of Community Health Network in Berlin and Wild Rose Memorial Hospital.

President and CEO Dean Gruner, MD, said putting all of ThedaCare’s hospitals under one leader brings more uniformity to operations. “The staffs at our hospitals already work together and this will grow those cooperative relationships as we strive to improve the quality of care to all of our patients. Having Brian in this role makes sense,” Dr. Gruner said. “Brian is a great leader and sincerely wants the best for our patients and our employees.”

Burmeister joined ThedaCare in 1989 as manager of physical rehabilitation at Appleton Medical Center and has since held multiple positions throughout his career with the Appleton-based healthcare system. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in public administration from UW-Oshkosh.

AMC is a 160-bed acute care hospital that opened in 1958. In addition to general medical and surgical care, services include the Appleton Heart Institute, a fully staffed emergency department, pediatrics, birthing services, a comprehensive cancer center, and ThedaCare Orthopedic Care, which integrates orthopedics, sports medicine, outpatient rehabilitation and other services. Appleton Medical Center is an accredited Chest Pain Center by the national Society of Chest Pain Centers.

Theda Clark is a 166-bed acute care hospital founded in 1909. In addition to general medical and surgical care, specialized services include a birth center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin - Fox Valley, the region’s only American College of Surgeons Verified Level II Trauma Center, and ThedaStar Air Medical Helicopter. Recognized centers of care include the Theda Clark Stroke Center, the Bariatric Program at Theda Clark, and the Aylward Outpatient Surgery Center.

ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of five hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, ThedaCare At Work, and ThedaCare at Home. ThedaCare is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.